FOR Alastair Cook, the Ashes series of 2010-11 must seem like a lifetime ago.

As England’s captain digests his 27th Test innings without a century as calls for his head rage on around him, his exploits three and a half years ago in amassing 766 runs at a scarcely believable average of 127.66 offers a stark and telling contrast to his current predicament.

Whereas he then led England to three innings victories in a 3-1 series triumph, he’s now presiding over a 10-Test winless run in which his 2014 average has plummeted to a meagre 14.33 runs.

Alastair Cook trudges off the field at Lord’s after making a painstaking 22 on the fourth day of the Test.Source:AFP

And Australia is at the heart of both the pinnacle and current nadir of Cook’s career.

His travails really started in last year’s Ashes series at home, averaging a disappointing 27.70 with a top score of 62 in 10 innings despite England recording an admittedly somewhat flattering 3-0 win.

His average has since declined series on series, dropping from 24.60 as Australia reclaimed the urn with an emphatic 5-0 victory to 19.50 as England lost 1-0 at home to Sri Lanka in a two-Test contest.

Currently, with England trailing India 1-0 after two Tests and with three to play, Cook is averaging a paltry 12.33 and with all confidence seemingly shot as the series heads to Southampton for Sunday’s start of the next match.

“In Cook’s willingness to continue to shoulder the burden, reiterated after the Test and confirmed with the announcement of the 13-man squad, there is undoubtedly a quiet very English kind of heroism to be admired; in his refusal to take on his critics, with the one exception when he snapped back about Shane Warne, there is great dignity, too. He handled himself as well as possible in the aftermath of the game.

“Whether you think he should remain at the helm or not — and the reception he received when he came out to bat in the second innings at Lord’s, and then when he cracked a four to get off the mark, suggests there are many in his camp — it is impossible not to admire his courage and resolution. It would have been the most difficult drive home imaginable for him on Monday evening, though.

Alastair Cook nicks off to Ishant Sharma to extend his miserable run of form.Source:AFP

“Those dark, solitary hours are when the mind can play tricks so that self-doubt can eat away at a previously stated conviction, but those closest to him say that he believes he has turned a corner with his batting and that he is determined to see the job through.”

“I do not believe Alastair Cook is a very good captain,” Holding said. “He doesn’t look like a leader and he is not tactically astute. He’s not getting any runs either, so I don’t see why he’s captain. But England are worried they’d have egg on their face if they sacked him so soon after getting rid of Kevin Pietersen.”

Cook’s alarming loss of form with the bat is the main cause of concern, Hussain said.

“He probably should step down, yes — but mainly because he needs to focus on his batting. Because he’s not a natural leader, he’s using up a lot of his energy trying to resolve that, when what the likes of Australia or India would fear is a return to the opening batsman who helped win series out there in 2010-11 and 2012-13. They don’t fear his captaincy and England need his runs more than ever.”

“Whether, with the exception of Buttler for Prior, the XI who take the field remain the same is another matter: they ought not to be. There is always a school of thought that suggests those who got things into a mess deserve the chance to rectify it. After a fashion, this is how Cook’s continuation as captain, and indeed player, might be viewed. It is certainly the stance that he takes, although he does not use the word ‘deserve’.

It’s not just about Alastair Cook, Stuart Broad is one of England’s senior players who is also struggling.Source:AP

“He does not wish to be seen quitting on a job for which, as captain, he is taking responsibility not just for his recent failings but those of others, senior colleagues largely, as well. And if Cook, were he not captain, would currently be the most vulnerable of the group in playing terms, it is hard to see how he could advocate the dropping of others.”

“Buttler’s promotion is unlikely to delight the purists. He is not one of those who was tossed a pair of gauntlets while still wearing nappies — one somehow assumes that to have been the case with Bob Taylor or Bruce French. He is a relative latecomer to keeping wicket.

“The England hierarchy tried to protect him this summer. The selectors were desperate to get Matt Prior back in the side. Amid the turmoil they craved an experienced ‘spine’ to the team, no matter that Prior had been out of form and dropped in Australia as well as possessing an achilles in rebellion.

“Prior had the backing of the captain, Alastair Cook, and the coach, Peter Moores. Six hours before the announcement of Prior’s withdrawal they were still singing his praises. ‘He’s a fantastic wicketkeeper,’ Cook said. Moores acknowledged that Prior had just had ‘a tough Test but he kept well in the second innings. There has been no lack of effort from him’.”

Wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler’s destructive power hitting has seen him likened to Adam Gilchrist.Source:News Limited

“If blood was expected on the carpet after the defeat by India at Lord’s, a welcome mat appears to have been rolled out instead.

“Cook’s defiance over continuing to lead a team that appear unresponsive to his exhortations is admirable in its sense of duty, but change can often freshen up teams providing there is a core of confidence within the side.

“If there is not, as was the case with the England side who played the West Indies in 1988, then replacing players en masse can confuse matters even more as that series of four captains revealed, the team losing the last four Tests after beginning with a creditable draw.”

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